Apparently, the gene that determines the calico coloring is a recessive gene that is carried only on the X Chromosome.
This means that cats with gene match XX (females) are the only ones that can display the calico patterns and coloring. Any time you have an XY (male) match, the dominant gene on the Y chromosome will cause the cat not to display the calico coloring.
However, 1 in 10,000 calico cats are born with a mutation so that their sex chromosome matches up as XXY. The additional chromosome member will allow the calico coloring to show up, and the Y chromosome ends up making the cat a male.
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This means that cats with gene match XX (females) are the only ones that can display the calico patterns and coloring. Any time you have an XY (male) match, the dominant gene on the Y chromosome will cause the cat not to display the calico coloring.
However, 1 in 10,000 calico cats are born with a mutation so that their sex chromosome matches up as XXY. The additional chromosome member will allow the calico coloring to show up, and the Y chromosome ends up making the cat a male.
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